The best opening day ever?

[Deano's Mullet]

Some might go for two seasons later vs United but this gets my vote. Four great Villa goals, Sid beginning his third spell, Townsend making his debut, sweltering hot day and it felt like we really were going to win the league. Staunton scoring amazing long rangers for fun. Happy days. Whats your favourite opening day game?

[Chico Hamilton III]

A fantastic day, red hot, thousands of Villa fans, Big Ron getting stick, cut Sheffield Wednesday to pieces with our counter attacking play....

Other great opening games for me - the 3-1 at the Emirates a few years ago, Luna scoring
The first ever game at the Emirates - Randy, O'Neil, "USA,USA..." Mellberg scoring the first goal at the ground
Man United at home in the "won't win anything with kids" game. Was that the opening game of the season?

[Deano's Mullet]

A fantastic day, red hot, thousands of Villa fans, Big Ron getting stick, cut Sheffield Wednesday to pieces with our counter attacking play....

Other great opening games for me - the 3-1 at the Emirates a few years ago, Luna scoring
The first ever game at the Emirates - Randy, O'Neil, "USA,USA..." Mellberg scoring the first goal at the ground
Man United at home in the "won't win anything with kids" game. Was that the opening game of the season?

yes to the United game. last time we beat them at home in the league which is incredible to think. we came so close in a couple, particularly Gregory's final season where we got a 1-1 draw, pegged back in injury time.

[itbrvilla]

A fantastic day, red hot, thousands of Villa fans, Big Ron getting stick, cut Sheffield Wednesday to pieces with our counter attacking play....

Other great opening games for me - the 3-1 at the Emirates a few years ago, Luna scoring
The first ever game at the Emirates - Randy, O'Neil, "USA,USA..." Mellberg scoring the first goal at the ground
Man United at home in the "won't win anything with kids" game. Was that the opening game of the season?

It was Mellberg in a 1-1 draw.

[PeterWithesShin]

[castlefields_villan]

I agree with PWS - that 4-3 against Albion in August 1983 takes some beating - remember it as if it was yesterday - Brendan Ormsby - from Villain and Hero in about half an hour (and that included half time !)

[Lucky Eddie]

Nobody who was at Sheffield Wednesday would vote for a better season opener.....

[Russ aka Big Nose]

Nobody who was at Sheffield Wednesday would vote for a better season opener.....

I was at Sheffield Wednesday and it was very special. Over an hour of Villa fans singing "Thank you very much for Big Fat Ron ..." to the tune of the Quality Street ad. Happy days.

[silhillvilla]

The 4-3 WBA
The 3-2 weds
The 3-0 Yanited
The 4-2 CiŁy

[wittonwarrior]

has to be the Sheff  Wed at Hillsborough.

others not mentioned - West Ham at home 76 and Leeds 75 the latter if only for atmosphere

[Damo70]

Best was Sheffield Wednesday away. Second best for me would be Albion at home in 1983. I was racking my brains trying to think when Ken McNaught left us for them. I was thinking about a week before the game. Then I was thinking the day before (but realised he probably wouldn't have been able to play if that was the case). If I keep thinking about it I will eventually decide he played the first half for us then signed for them at half time. I know he and Peter Withe were good mates and were interviewed together on Central Sport the night before.

[Damo70]

Thankyou. That also answered my Ken McNaught question. Looking at the teams I realised when we played then in the cup in 1990 Nigel Spink and Gary Robson were the only two survivors form the '83 game.

[castlefields_villan]

Best was Sheffield Wednesday away. Second best for me would be Albion at home in 1983. I was racking my brains trying to think when Ken McNaught left us for them. I was thinking about a week before the game. Then I was thinking the day before (but realised he probably wouldn't have been able to play if that was the case). If I keep thinking about it I will eventually decide he played the first half for us then signed for them at half time. I know he and Peter Withe were good mates and were interviewed together on Central Sport the night before.
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I remember them both on that interview, and also I recall when asked by Gary Newbon who he thought the winner would be - Jimmy Greaves replied "I think the winner will be Kenny McWithe !"

I also remember there was an issue with Peter Withe at that time and the problem for him was his concern that we'd just signed Paul Rideout (who came with quite a big reputation if I remember correctly) - this came just 2 years after we'd won the league with 14 players and as Withey would've been around 33 at the time he was concerned he wasn't going to be the number one choice for centre forward.

[Damo70]

When my son and I did the stadium tour a couple of years back there was a Q&A with McNaught and Morley. I noticed that rather than 'the gaffer', 'the boss' or 'Ron Saunders' they both referred to him simply as 'Saunders'. McNaught also said that Billy McNeill lied to him when he went to City on loan. He promised if they went up he would sign him from Albion permanently. They did and he didn't.

[Flamingo Lane]

West Ham at home in 1976, 3-0, setting us up for the wonderful football that we'd see at Villa Park that season.